Bench having diamond plate seat, diamond plate back, and I-beam legs

ABSTRACT

A bench includes a seat formed from diamond plate having a raised pattern and a pair of spaced-apart legs formed from I-beams for supporting said seat. The bench may also include a back formed from diamond plate having a raised pattern. The seat and the back may have an outer metallic surface and the pair of spaced-apart legs may have a coating having a color. The seat may include a frame attached to the diamond plate which defines a top surface and downwardly-depending edges. The back may include a frame attached to the diamond plate which defines a front surface and downwardly-depending edges. Other embodiments of benches are also described.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to seats for sitting and more particularly to benches.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventional benches are often are formed with painted steel or aluminum slats, painted perforated steel or aluminum, untreated or painted wood, or colored plastic. Problems with such conventional benches are that the painted surfaces fade and chip particularly on the top of the seat and on the front of the back, the wood slowly decomposes, and the colored plastic fades over time.

[0003] Another problem with such benches is that the seats and the backs are often unable to withstand a heavy load. Still another problem is that the benches typically have a design that is not appropriate with the decor of the surrounding area.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for further benches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention provides, in a first aspect, a bench which includes a seat comprising diamond plate having a raised diamond pattern defining a top surface, and at least one leg comprising an I-beam for supporting the seat.

[0006] The present invention provides, in a second aspect, a bench which includes a seat comprising diamond plate having a raised diamond pattern defining a top surface, at least one leg comprising an I-beam for supporting the seat, and a back attached to the at least one leg. The back also comprises diamond plate having a raised pattern defining a front surface.

[0007] The present invention provides, in a third aspect, a bench which includes a seat comprising diamond plate having a raised diamond pattern defining a top surface and downwardly-depending edges, a pair of spaced-apart legs each comprising an I-beam for supporting the seat, and wherein the top surface and edges of the seat comprise a metallic surface, and the pair of spaced-apart legs comprise a coating comprising a color. The seat may also include a back comprising diamond plate having a raised pattern for defining a front surface and downwardly-depending edges. The back may be attached to the legs with a pair of spaced-apart back supports, and the front surface and the edges of the back comprise a metallic surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of various embodiments and accompanying drawings in which:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bench in accordance with the present invention;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a reduced front elevational view of the bench shown in FIG. 1;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a reduced sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of a bench in accordance with the present invention; and

[0014]FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015]FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a bench 10 in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, bench 10 generally includes a seat 20, and a pair of spaced-apart legs 40. As described in greater detail below, seat 20 is formed from diamond plate, and the pair of spaced-apart legs 40 are formed from I-beams.

[0016] The bench may be installed, for example, in parks, and near businesses and shopping centers. The bench may match existing industrial-themed developments. For example, where abandoned factories are converted into shopping centers, the bench formed from diamond plate and I-beams blends into the surrounding indoor or outdoor environment and enhances the industrial motif. Combining the diamond plate and the I-beam for forming a bench allows architects and designers to coordinate the appearance of their industrial projects.

[0017] As best shown in FIG. 1, legs 40 include an elongated I-beam having a web portion 42 and two outer flanges 44. Web portion 42 may be aligned along the length of the bench so that flanges 44 are disposed perpendicular to the length of the bench.

[0018] Lower ends 46 of legs 42 may be attached to leg supports 50, formed from a C-channel. For example, the C-channel may have a width which corresponds to the width of the I-beam. The outer surface of a web portion 52 of the C-channel may be attached to lower end 46 of leg 40 so that downwardly-depending flanges 54 of the C-channel are positioned to engage the ground. While the bench may be portable, the C-channel member may be provided with holes in the web, as shown in FIG. 1, for use in attaching and securing the bench, for example, to a cement footing (not shown). It will be appreciated that the ends of the I-beam legs may be suitably secured in the ground without the leg support. The leg supports may also comprise a square tube or other suitable configuration.

[0019] Seat 20 is formed from a sheet of diamond plate having a raised diamond pattern or similar embossed pattern on the surface. For example, a sheet of diamond plate may be formed to include a top surface 22, and a front edge 24, a rear edge (not shown), and side edges 26 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1), which are formed by bending the peripherally-extending portions of the diamond plate. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the outermost peripheral edges may further be turned inward under the seat.

[0020] Seat 20 may also include a frame 30 which attaches to seat 20 and to legs 40. Frame 30 may be formed from a plurality of square tubes 32 which define a rectangular-shaped frame. A pair of spaced-apart plates 34 span between opposite longitudinally-extending portions of square tubes 32. A top end 48 (FIG. 4) of each I-beam 40 is attached to a respective plate member 34. The combination of the diamond plate and frame provide a rigid structure for supporting heavy loads.

[0021] The various components forming the frame and the legs may be welded together. As best shown in FIG. 4, frame 30 may include a plurality of threaded nuts 38 which are attached to square tubes 32. A plurality of screws or bolts 39, such as flat head cap screws, may extend through holes in the downwardly-depending edge portions of seat 20 and engage the threaded nuts to attach seat 20 to frame 30.

[0022]FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate another bench 100 in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, bench 100 generally includes a seat 120, a pair of spaced-apart legs 140, a back 160, and a pair of spaced-apart back supports 150. Seat 120 and back 160 are formed from diamond plate, and the pair of spaced-apart legs 140 are formed from I-beams. Seat 120 and legs 140 may be formed and assembled as described above with reference to bench 10.

[0023] Back 160 is formed from a sheet of diamond plate having a raised diamond pattern or similar embossed pattern on the surface. For example, as best shown in FIG. 6, a sheet of diamond plate may be formed to include a top surface 162, and a top edge 164, a bottom edge 166, and side edges (not shown), which are formed by bending the peripherally-extending portions of the diamond plate. The outermost peripheral edges may further be turned inward under the back.

[0024] Back 160 may also include a frame 130 which attaches to back 160. Frame 130 may be formed from a plurality of square tubes 132 defining a rectangular frame. Back 160 may be attached to frame 130 using threaded bolts in a similar manner as described above with reference to the attachment of seat 20 to frame 30.

[0025] Back 160 may be supported and attached to legs 140 by a pair of spaced-apart back supports 150. For example, back supports 150 may comprise a plurality of square tubes which includes a lower horizontal portion 152 and an upper generally vertical portion 154. Portion 154 may be also be disposed on an angle from vertical, for example, as shown in FIG. 6. Lower portion 152 of back supports 150 includes an end 156 which may be attached, e.g., by welding, to a respective rear surface of the web of leg 140. Upper portion 154 of back supports 150 may be attached, e.g., by welding, to frame 130. A half round member 158 may be attached to and cover the opening of the square tube forming the upper end of upper portion 154 of back supports 150.

[0026] The seats, the legs, the leg supports, the backs, the frames, and the back supports may be formed from stainless steel, aluminum, or any suitable material. In addition, the seat and back may be polished diamond plate having an outer metallic surface and the legs may be powder-coated to exhibit a color surface such as red, black, green, blue, bronze, or other suitable colors. In addition, the back and the seat may also be powder-coated to exhibit a color surface. The diamond plate may be about ⅛ inch to ¼ inch thick, the downwardly-depending edges may extend about 1-½ to 2 inches, the I-beam may be about 4 inches wide (flange to flange), the square tube for the frames may be a 1-½ by 1-½ square tube, and the back supports may be 2 to 2-½ inch square tube.

[0027] While the benches of the present invention are illustrated as having straight seats and backs, it will be appreciated that seats and backs may be curved (either along the length and/or along the width thereof) or provided with other suitable configurations. In addition, the seat may be disposed horizontally or on an angle, e.g., on an angle from front to back. The benches may be manufactured in various lengths, e.g., four feet, six feet, or eight feet in length. The combination of the diamond plate and I-beams result in a sturdy construction and reduces the likelihood of being damaged, and the diamond plate provides texture to the surface of the seat and the back.

[0028] Thus, while various embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A bench comprising: a seat comprising diamond plate having a raised diamond pattern defining a top surface; and at least one leg comprising an I-beam for supporting said seat.
 2. The bench of claim 1 wherein said at least one leg comprises a web portion disposed along the length of said seat, and flanges disposed perpendicular to the length of said seat.
 3. The bench of claim 1 further comprising at least one horizontally-extending leg support comprising a C-channel attached to a lower end of said at least one leg.
 4. The bench of claim 1 wherein said diamond plate comprises a raised diamond pattern defining downwardly-depending edges.
 5. The bench of claim 1 wherein said seat and said at least one leg comprise at least one of stainless steel and aluminum.
 6. The bench of claim 1 wherein said top surface comprises a metallic surface, and said at least one leg comprises a coating comprising a color.
 7. The bench of claim 1 wherein said seat comprises a frame, said diamond plate being attached to said frame, and said frame being attached to said at least one leg.
 8. A bench comprising: a seat comprising diamond plate having a raised diamond pattern defining a top surface; at least one leg comprising an I-beam for supporting said seat; and a back attached to said at least one leg, said back comprising diamond plate having a raised diamond pattern defining a front surface.
 9. The bench of claim 8 wherein said at least one leg comprises a web portion disposed along the length of said seat, and flanges disposed perpendicular to the length of said seat.
 10. The bench of claim 8 further comprising at least one horizontally-extending support comprising a C-channel attached to a lower end of said at least one leg.
 11. The bench of claim 8 wherein said seat comprises diamond plate having a raised diamond pattern defining downwardly-depending edges.
 12. The bench of claim 8 wherein said back comprises diamond plate having a raised diamond pattern defining downwardly-depending edges.
 13. The bench of claim 8 further comprising at least one back support attachable to said back and to said at least one leg.
 14. The bench of claim 13 wherein said at least one back support comprises a square tube.
 15. The bench of claim 8 wherein said seat, said back, and said at least one leg comprise at least one of stainless steel and aluminum.
 16. The bench of claim 8 wherein said top surface and said front surface comprise a metallic surface, and said at least one leg comprises an outer coating comprising a color.
 17. The bench of claim 8 further comprising at least one back support, and wherein said seat comprises a frame and said diamond plate of said seat being attached to said frame with screws, said back comprises a frame and said diamond plate of said back being attached to said frame with screws, said frame of said seat being welded to said at least one leg, said frame of said back being welded to said back support, and said back support being welded to said at least one leg.
 18. A bench comprising: a seat comprising diamond plate having a raised diamond pattern defining a top surface and downwardly-depending edges; a pair of spaced-apart legs each comprising an I-beam for supporting said seat; and wherein said top surface and said edges of said seat comprise a metallic surface, and said pair of spaced-apart legs comprise a coating comprising a color.
 19. The bench of claim 18 further comprising a back comprising diamond plate having a raised diamond pattern defining a front surface and downwardly-depending edges, a pair of spaced-apart back supports for attaching said back to each of said pair of spaced-apart legs, and wherein said front surface and said edges of said back comprise a metallic surface.
 20. The bench of claim 18 further comprising a pair of horizontally-extending supports comprising a C-channel, each of which being attached to one of the lower ends of said pair of spaced-apart legs. 